Lighting layout for 2.5 car garage

[garrett1812]

Looking for suggestions on lighting layout for a 2.5 car garage with 10ft ceiling. The garage will normally be used to park 2 cars (but also pull the cars out for occasional big projects), and the half car portion used for storage and workbench. I will have separate task lighting over the workbench, so only need to consider normal lighting.

Fixtures are already purchased (sorry...not returning anything, have to use these!). I have six now, but will buy additional if there is need. They are the Costco special Fiet 4ft LED fixtures (3700 lumens).

The dashed line in the diagram is an enclosed beam, about 18" down from the ceiling. This beam is about 4-6ft back from the garage door.

A few ideas sketched out:

 

[garrett1812]

Does anyone know if the single row of lights over the two car portion is sufficient?

Two rows puts the lights over the car. Plenty of light during projects, but will walkways between cars be too dark,

 

[YukonXL04]

I would do 3 rows running front to back. 1 row on far left, 1 row center, and 1 row far right. 2 fixtures per row should be fine. 3 per row would be better

 

[CombatNinja]

You're gonna want more light than that if you plan on doing any kind of detailed work in there. I'm talking an extensive paint correction/full detail on a car, moderately difficult assembly work, etc.

I'd go with four rows of lights: one to the far left running long ways to light one side of the car, one dead center between the two cars and one to the right of the rightmost car. Put as many of the 4ft fixtures as you can fit, including one near the front of the garage on the outside of that beam. A beam hanging 18" down will kill your light behind it and you will be left in the shadows. Fourth row I would put in the center of that little bump out running lengthwise and, again, as many as will fit. So I'm talking about 15 fixtures total. (I can't tell how big the garage is from your diagram.) Lighting is one of those things that people often just take for granted, slap up some fixtures and live with for years without knowing how much more enjoyable tasks could be with the right lighting.

 

[CJ7VFR]

I would do 3 rows running front to back. 1 row on far left, 1 row center, and 1 row far right. 2 fixtures per row should be fine. 3 per row would be better

I agree with the light set up going front to back. Since you will be pulling the cars into the garage, and they will be oriented from the front to the back, by making the lights go from front to back will put more light into the cars.

And having the extra set of lights running front to back in the center will add more light for your bigger projects when the cars are not in the garage.

I would also recommend that you use several light switches to turn different sets of lights on and off. This will give you the most control over the amount of light you actually need for any given task you are going to do, and help keep your electricity usage lower versus having all the lights on all at once.

Jim

 

[garrett1812]

Thanks for the feedback so far.

I think a third row is possible, but not sure if I want the expense of more fixtures.

I am trying to do everything off of one switch to minimize wiring and not do any drywall work.

How far out does the light spread, on each side or end of the light?

 

[Platonic Solid]

How far out does the light spread, on each side or end of the light?

Not answerable. That's the problem with fixture manufacturers that don't provide IES files. Keep in mind that they have this information, they're just not willing to share.

As far as fixture quantity and location, I'd suggest looking at the Layout Collection linked in my sig line below and check out the layouts with F32T8 2-lamp strip lights. I'll assume the lumen output is similar even though the numbers don't support that statement.

 

[pablo94sc]

I have a similar sized garage. I have 6 2-bulb t8 fixtures. Four are in housings that direct the light down; one over each engine bay and one over my bench and storage area. The other two are over the cars nearer the door and ruin parallel to the cars. Those twelve bulbs put out a ton of light, and pretty much every one of them is on a simple pull chain so I can turn them on or off as needed. You could go more, but it really depends on what you're doing to need that much light. I personally use drop lights for task lighting as I don't think any amount of overhead lighting will provide enough light to fill entry nook and cranny while working on the cars, and I'd rather be comfortable doing general tasks than need shades. Lol

PS: I'm using 2900 lumen Sylvania bulbs in 3500k from Lowe's. I ordered some lower lumen, 25W TCP bulbs from Amazon for about a dollar a bulb to try out. Got them today and put two over the workbench. Already thinking I'm going to stick with the Sylvania bulbs in the work areas and use these new ones in the kitchen and maybe over the cars out storage area. I didn't realize the output difference be that dramatic, but it's significant.

 

[garrett1812]

Thanks. I have now been toying with the idea of two rows each of three lights over the two car portion, and two lights over the half car bump out (plus two lower over workbench). But plugging in just one light last night was amazed by the output. I think 8 on the ceiling would be overkill. Yet I feel one row of three lights over the two car portion would be too little and would not spread out enough.

 

[garrett1812]

I agree, maybe it is designed for the area there

Uhh, what?